He said several times that Iran, a predominately Shiite country, was supplying the mostly Sunni militant group, al-Qaeda. In fact, officials have said they believe Iran is helping Shiite extremists in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters in Amman, the Jordanian capital, McCain said he and two Senate colleagues traveling with him continue to be concerned about Iranian operatives "taking al-Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back."
Pressed to elaborate, McCain said it was "common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran, that's well known. And it's unfortunate." A few moments later, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, standing just behind McCain, stepped forward and whispered in the presidential candidate's ear. McCain then said: "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaeda."
The mistake threatened to undermine McCain's argument that his decades of foreign policy experience make him the natural choice to lead a country at war with terrorists. In recent days, McCain has repeatedly said his intimate knowledge of foreign policy make him the best equipped to answer a phone ringing in the White House late at night.
But then again, it's not actually about experience or knowledge, as you know, it's about the image of having any...
And so it goes...
UPDATE: Think Progress has more, including audio of McCain making the same misstatement on right-wing Hugh Hewitt's radio show earlier. So it wasn't an accidental "gaffe". It was a fundamental misunderstanding --- by the man regarded by the mainstream corporate media as having the most foreign policy expertise among all of the major American Presidential candidates --- of a key issue at the very heart of one ongoing war in Iraq, and at the very heart of a possible second one in Iran.


Trump Now Losing One
'Green News Report' 12/11/25
Dems Continue Stunning
'Coalition of the Unwilling': Petrostates and Propagandists Undermining Climate Science: 'BradCast' 12/9/25
'Green News Report' 12/9/25
The High Cost of Trump's Terrible Policy Making: 'BradCast' 12/8/25
Sunday 'All in a Day's Work' Toons
Dems Fight to Avoid the GOP's Massive, Year-End Health Care Cliff: 'BradCast' 12/4/25
'Green News Report' 12/4/25
A 'Flashing Red Light Warning Sign' for the GOP: 'BradCast' 12/3/25
Hegseth, War Crimes and DoD's 'Politiciz-ation Death Spiral': 'BradCast' 12/2/25
'Green News Report' 12/2/25
Follow the
Sunday 'Bootlicker' Toons
With Thanks, No Kings and Good Cheer
Presidential Illegality and Duty to Disobey
Sunday 'Leave 'em in Stitches' Toons
President of United States Calls for Killing Democratic Officials: 'BradCast' 11/20/25
'Green News Report' 11/20/25
Is MAGA Finally Beginning to Fall Apart?: 'BradCast' 11/19/25
Trump's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week: 'BradCast' 11/18/25
A Kaleidoscope of Trump Corruption: 'BradCast' 11/17/25
Trump DOJ Takes Stand for Voting Whites in CA: 'BradCast' 11/13/25
Mamdani's 'Surprisingly Affordable' Afford-ability Agenda for NYC: 'BradCast' 11/12
After the Shutdown and Before the Next One: 'BradCast' 11/11/25
2025 Election Victories; Also: 7 Dems, 1 Indie End Shutdown: 'BradCast' 11/10/25
'We Can See Light at the End of the Tunnel' After Election 2025: 'BradCast' 11/6/25
VA GOP VOTER REG FRAUDSTER OFF HOOK
Criminal GOP Voter Registration Fraud Probe Expanding in VA
DOJ PROBE SOUGHT AFTER VA ARREST
Arrest in VA: GOP Voter Reg Scandal Widens
ALL TOGETHER: ROVE, SPROUL, KOCHS, RNC
LATimes: RNC's 'Fired' Sproul Working for Repubs in 'as Many as 30 States'
'Fired' Sproul Group 'Cloned', Still Working for Republicans in At Least 10 States
FINALLY: FOX ON GOP REG FRAUD SCANDAL
COLORADO FOLLOWS FLORIDA WITH GOP CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
CRIMINAL PROBE LAUNCHED INTO GOP VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD SCANDAL IN FL
Brad Breaks PA Photo ID & GOP Registration Fraud Scandal News on Hartmann TV
CAUGHT ON TAPE: COORDINATED NATIONWIDE GOP VOTER REG SCAM
CRIMINAL ELECTION FRAUD COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST GOP 'FRAUD' FIRM
RICK SCOTT GETS ROLLED IN GOP REGISTRATION FRAUD SCANDAL
VIDEO: Brad Breaks GOP Reg Fraud Scandal on Hartmann TV
RNC FIRES NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION FIRM FOR FRAUD
EXCLUSIVE: Intvw w/ FL Official Who First Discovered GOP Reg Fraud
GOP REGISTRATION FRAUD FOUND IN FL































